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No-one wants to witness a pile-up such as the one which had six apprentice riderseither hospitalised ortreated by ambulance officers at Taree Wingham Race Club’sTAB meeting last Monday.

Unfortunately, race falls happen and it is probably due to the compulsory protectivegear worn by jockeys that more serious results are minimised.

Leading apprentice jockey Samantha Clenton,on Port Macquarie four year-old greygelding Bazza’s Boy,was about to try to add to her 81 victories so far this seasonwhen her mount crashed.

Another five apprentices, two of their mounts also crashing over Bazza’sBoy, had varying injuries as a result.The worst, besides Clenton, was Jackson Murphy on Blinkin Rules.Onlythe Saturday before, he had celebratedone of his best days at the track with a winning doubleat Kempsey’s TAB meeting.

Injuries after fall: Injuries have been a source of angst recently but the racing fraternity agree falls are part of the sport.

Clenton’ssurgery entailed herclavicle being fixedwith a plate and screws and shehasfurther problems with her left knee.Murphy, apprenticed to Wauchope trainer Grant Prosser, had internal injuries, and wasadmitted to John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, close to his parents who live nearby.The others were either treated at hospital or given treatment for minor injuries.

Unfortunately, Bazza’s Boy, trained by Jenny Grahamand owned by Wauchope’s DaleMiller, who was trackside, was humanely euthanased.The gelding was promising as a middle distance galloper after a close fourth over1800m in a Highway race at Royal Randwick on February 13.

It hasn’t been a happy season for Miller who lost promising Lightning Striker, trained by Graham,in atrack accident,she also losing promising Deceptive(four wins).

Breeding successKrambach Race Club committee man, Peter Killen, a successful racehorse owner priorto retiring as a teacher, started his hobby breeding career on a winning note with thefirst of his progeny, three-year-old filly Capital Magic, scoring at her fifth start for abig contingent of local owners.

“She missed the kick and still won,” he said of the $13 chancetrained at Taree by BobMilligan and ridden by Grant Buckley.He thought she may have been short of a run but the filly made good ground from lastat her first start from a spell to score by a half length.

Killen mated his Taree winner Firefly Magic with Recapitalize and the result proved agood result at his first breeding venture.He has another two by Haslington out of the mare at home and might beon theverge of having a dynasty of winners.

Kempsey trainer Barry Ratcliff was vindicated forkeeping four-year-old gelding LikeMy Brother in his stable, despite the galloper kicking him and putting his life at risk.He had the last laugh, although still nursing an injured kicked leg, whenthe galloper scored by a long neck at $6 at Taree.The lightning blow was dealt a couple of months ago but Ratcliff, a hardy fellow atmost times, thought little of the injury until things started to go wrong.His leg swelled to such a degree that doctors had no hesitation in placing him inhospital. The result was “about 400 stitches”.

He said the win would allow him to “pay the nurses a sling and the doctor’s bill”, hebeing a part owner.“The result was that the horse nearly killed me,” said Ratcliff.

The trainer bought the gelding–“not a bad maiden”- off the internet for $5000 butthe near $18,000 prize money so far is bound to soothe things, bank and injury wise.

* * *

The cash windfall following the NSW state government’s better taxation policy forthe state’s racing fraternity has resulted in Racing NSW calling for 27 new positionsto ensure the ongoing production of qualified racecourse curators.

Taree and Port Macquarie clubs will benefit from having new positions created towork in turf management and green keeping.

Apprentice sports turf management/greenkeeper;Cert III 4 year apprenticeshipsoffer unique career opportunities and information can be obtainedfrom Racing NSW on 9551 7568 from Mark Brassel or the clubs involved.

* * *

Racing returns to Bushland Drive Racecourse this Friday for an eight-race TABmeeting, featuring the Wingham Cup.

This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.

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Row spacings will be the feature of a project conducted by a Birchip Cropping Group researcher funded by a scholarship.Research breakthrough

Monash researchers have discovered a new mechanism that enables plants to regulate their flowering in response to raised temperatures.

The finding could potentially lead to the development of technology allowing plant breeders to control the physiological response of plants and mitigate the impacts of warming temperatures.

The Monash team led by Associate Professor Sureshkumar Balasubramanian made the discovery by applying a combination of genetic, molecular and computational biology experiments to the flowering plant Arabidopsis.

Research scholarships

TWO young researchers have won scholarships allowing them to manage grains research projects of their own this year.

Sebastian Ie and Jessica Lemon, both research officers at Birchip Cropping Group (BCG) in Victoria have won Williamson Foundation scholarships worth $30,000 each.

These funds will enable them to design and deliver research projects in their first year of employment at BCG.

Mr Ie’s project will see the establishment of a paddock-scale field trial investigating precision agriculture and variable rate nitrogen application.

As part of the project, UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) technology will be used to collect data, and the value of this technology will be assessed.

Ms Lemon’s research project will seek to determine how stubble grazing influences the growth of barley sown on three different row spacings.

Viterra appointment

Viterra has appointed Jo Klitscher as its eastern region operations manager, encompassing eastern South Australia and western Victoria.

Ms Klitscher has been with the business 17 years and was most recently operations co-ordinator in the Thevenard region on the Eyre Peninsula.

Chickpea research

The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) is hoping two wild relatives of chickpeas will be able to provide clues to find genes resistant to the damaging root lesion nematode.

USQ has brought in two ancient varieties of chickpea from Turkey to search for suitable genetic material.

Both the old varieties have strong resistance to root lesion nematode, which can cause a great deal of damage to grain legume crops.

This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.

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Nov 20, 2018

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Comments Off on Dan Mortimer tips fellow Orange junior James Maloney to star in Origin I

BACK IN THE DAY: James Maloney, pictured playing for SJS in the under-8s, will get another crack at Origin.

RUGBY LEAGUESURELY there’s nothing worse than being a New South Welshman living in Queensland come State of Origin time.

Particularly over the course of the last 10 years, with the Maroons successfully claiming nine of the series on offer.

Surely.

Not according to Orange product Dan Mortimer.

The former CYMS gun has been with the Gold Coast Titans since the middle of the 2014 season and with the state allegiances in the Titans squad, he says, split virtually right down the middle, being a Blue in enemy territory isn’t all that bad.

“You’d think it would be,” Mortimer laughed.

“But there’s a heap of NSW guys up here as well. We’re going ok.”

The Blues take on the Maroons in game one of the 2016 series at ANZ Stadium in Sydney tonight and Mortimer was particularly pleased with the inclusion of one of his former teammates and another Orange product in James Maloney.

Maloney first played junior league with St Joseph’s Sheahan in the early 90s while his father Brian captain-coached CYMS’ first grade side.

The now Cronulla Sharks five-eighth forced his way back into the Blues side after debuting in 2013 before missing out on both the 2014 and 2015 series.

Mortimer says Maloney is primed to fire, he even went as far as predicting the Blues to win by two points on the back of a Maloney penalty kick late in the series opener.

“He’s underrated if you ask me,” Mortimer, currently recovering from hamstring surgery, said.

“He cops a lot of flak for his defence but he gives it everything he has and he’s just a champion bloke.

“You only have to look at how the Roosters are going this year to see how much they miss him. He’s on fire for the Sharks and he’ll be eyeing off a good game on Wednesday night.”

Even with Josh Dugan being ruled out through injury, Mortimer says the inclusion of Josh Morris benefits the Blues as a whole, with the likes of Dave Klemmer, James Tamou, Paul Gallen, Andrew Fifita and Wests Tigers skipper Aaron Woods forming an intimidating prop rotation for Laurie Daley.

“I really like this year’s team,” Mortimer said.

“The halves are in form and the pack has matched it with, if not out-played Queensland in the last couple of series.

“They’re a champion side, that Queensland team, and they’ve played a lot of footy together.

“I’d have had Josh Morris in the team from the start. We don’t lose anything with him there and he’s done the job on Inglis and their gun outside backs in the past.

This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.

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Nov 20, 2018

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Comments Off on Wheels in motion for ‘sky bike’ highways in Melbourne’s CBD

An artist’s impressions of a proposed raised cycle highway for Melbourne’s CBD.

One-metre buffer for cyclists would make roads less safe: police

A radical plan for a $100 million ‘sky bike’ super highway for Melbourne CBD cyclists is being examined by the Andrews government’s chief infrastructure adviser.

Infrastructure Victoria has floated a major plan to extend a network dedicated to bike corridors, including “grade separated” raised sections allowing cyclists to quickly and safely travel through and across the city.

In a major report examining dozens of major project options, Infrastructure Victoria predicted the controversial idea would cut traffic congestion, freeing up space for public transport.

“The provision of bicycle highways, especially if they are physically or grade separated, is likely to encourage new cycling trips by cyclists of varying ability and reduce the risk of injuries and fatalities related to crashes.”

It follows concerns that Melbourne’s bicycle corridors end abruptly on the city’s edge, with cyclists facing a dangerous journey into the heart of the business district.

Although cycling infrastructure is less expensive than other forms of transport, the report warned retrofitting an “elevated veloway” could be costly, with an added risk of conflict between growing numbers of commuter cyclists and motorists.

“There may be a more crashes involving cyclists with the growth of commuter cycling, particularly in the areas beyond the upgrade infrastructure,” the report said.

It remains unclear which streets through the city could be used for the bicycle highways.

In 2014, a consortium including Federation Square co-designer Donald Bates and Pacific Strategies director Mike Potter released a plan for a 1.7 kilometre raised “veloway” that would run about 10 metres above the ground, spanning six major intersections from Princes Bridge to Southern Cross Station.

An assessment by economic consultants Deloitte and engineering advisers Aurecon, suggested a more extensive network of cycle paths through the city would cost about $100 million.

But the assessment, commissioned by Infrastructure Victoria, said the idea would not make a significant contribution to meeting the state’s overall transport needs in the future.

The idea is also being examined as part of the government’s “Plan Melbourne” strategy. It found bike transportation played a major role accessing CBD jobs. Under the idea, “strategic cycling corridors will provide separated priority routes into and around the central city that support high volumes of cyclists of all abilities”.

VicRoads has also completed a Strategic Cycling Corridors project, which is due for release later this year.

Although Melbourne boast it is the world’s most liveable city (at least according to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s measure), when it comes to cycling infrastructure it is well behind other major cities.

Copenhagen, regarded as one of the most cycle-friendly cities in the world, recently completed its Cykelslangen, or Cycle Snake, an elevated orange bike lane that winds its way over the harbour.

Copenhagen, well known as a cycle-friendly city, has recently opened elevated bike lanes.

And last year London Mayor Boris Johnson announced a Cycle Superhighway plan to create a network of segregated bike lanes with dedicated traffic signals.

Bicycle Network CEO Craig Richards said the Infrastructure Victoria proposal was a sign that bikes were moving into the mainstream of planning for economic development.

“Infrastructure Victoria is thinking big, and realises that the benefits of bikes comes from major, cor-ordinated and sustained investment rather than the piecemeal approach that has prevailed to date,” he said.

Infrastructure Victoria was set up by the Andrews government to “ensure initiatives are planned with transparent, independent and expert infrastructure advice”.

“We’re establishing the $100 million Safer Cyclists and Pedestrians Fund to invest in new, dedicated cycling and walking facilities across Victoria to help keep bikes and pedestrians away from traffic,” she said.

This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.

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Yass Little Learners will benefit in the $24 million state funding for preschool education in long day care centres.

Minister for Early Childhood Education Leslie Williams and Pru Goward Member for Goulburn visited Yass Little Learners last Monday to discuss funding for the delivery of preschool programs for four and five-year-old children in the year before school.

Ms Goward said the focus is on universal access to early childhood education and supports participation in quality preschool programs within long day care services.

“As a result of this announcement Yass Little Learners will receive up to $3,600 in additional funding to deliver its preschool program,” Ms Goward said.

“Yass Little Learners is a fantastic centre and Director Jess Grundy has made a significant investment in Yass to provide opportunities to local working families to give their kids a great start to their education.”

As part of the $24 million grants program, all long day care services with four or five year olds will be eligible for a minimum payment of $300 per child, rising to a payment of $450 for children enrolled for 600 hours.

Four or five year olds from Aboriginal backgrounds or enrolled in services in disadvantaged areas will be eligible for a minimum payment of $450 per child, increasing to $675 for those enrolled for 600 hours.

Mrs Williams said all children should have the same access to a quality early childhood education, regardless of the type of service they attend.

“Yass Little Learners will be able to use the additional funding to purchase resources, develop a preschool program based on the Early Years Learning Framework and to broaden staff capability, including upgrading qualifications,” Mrs Williams said.

This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.

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Oct 20, 2018

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Jayden Brown passes from the base of a scrum during Canowindra’s match against Manildra on May 15. Brown was one of Canowindra’s best at the weekend.First grade was an up and down affair against a vastly improved Condobolin team compared to what they have fielded the last few years.

Canowindra seem to like playing harder than needed and love defending, constantly giving away easy possession and piggy backing penalties to the opposition.

The boys have several areas to improve on, after the 28-22 win, most importantly maintaining their intensity for the full 80 minute as they prepare for the local derby against Cargo next week.

On a side note, with captain-coach Matt Frazer out with a leg injury, it was good to see his brother Pete take to the field.

He gave us some steel in the middle when we needed it most.

And given he hasn’t played league for seven years, there was also promising signs from Todd Wyburn as well.

Once match fit, both Pete and Todd will be handy additions to the team and club.

As I stated earlier, next Sunday we have the local derby against Cargo with the game day sponsored by Canowindra Real Estate.

Be sure to get down to Tom Clyburn Oval to get behind and vocal to support our ladies and men.

Both games should provide some great local sporting entertainment.

On Sunday the Tigers scored after ten minutes with a try to Kurt Richardson from some classy work from Brydon Hughes and Matt Mclean on the blind side which was converted to lead 6-0.

Condobolin Rams were testing the Tigers defence with their offloads and could of scored only they dropped the ball and the Tigers to their credit were able to capitalise and they run in three more tries to lead 20-6 at the break.

Canowindra lost their urgency in defence and we’re going through the motions and let Condobolin back into the game.

The only bright point was the only second half was a try to Kurt Richardson from great work from all players sending the ball from one side of the field to the other and a great pass from Stanley Torato for Kurt to score.

Two penalty goals put the Tigers clear but Condobolin ran in late tries to close the gap but the clock was in favour of the Tigers to hold on to a narrow win which should have been more comfortable.

Captain coach Frazer wasn’t happy with the second half and will work on that at training to prepare for the next game.

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FRESH FACE: Christian Kunde has been chosen as the Labor candidate to take on incumbent and federal Health Minister Sussan Ley in the seat of Farrer. Photo: Fairfax.HEALTH will be the centrepiece of the Farrer election battle after Albury trainee doctor Christian Kunde was confirmed as the Labor candidate on Monday.

The Farrer electorate now includes Leeton.

“As a married man with a young family I want a future that is brighter for inland cities like Albury, Griffith and Deniliquin, not one that echoes the haves and have-nots of Malcolm Turnbull’s world,” he said.

The 30-year-old father of two is a trainee doctor at Albury hospital where Greens candidate Dr Amanda Cohn also works and the seat is held by health minister, Sussan Ley, with a margin of more than 20 per cent.

Mr Kunde said he had first-hand experience of the Coalition government’s health agenda and was particularly concerned about mental health services in the electorate.

“I’ve worked in the front line of our health services and I know firsthand the effect that Ms Ley’s government’s policies are having and will continue to have,” hesaid.

“Our health system is under attack and I want to be the one to defend that.

“Communities in our electorate should have the same access to those in Sydney and Melbourne.

Currently in Hay there is no access to psychological services and residents there have to travel to Griffith or Albury to access those services.

“The Coalition assault on Medicare has already started and Ms Ley has shownherself unwilling and unable to defend public health.”

Ms Ley said the NSW local health networks might have positions vacant, but some services were a state responsibility and some were federal.

Mr Kunde accused the government of having policies that would “drag us to an American-style health system”.

“I’m standing for Labor because we are committed to a strong and equitable public health care system,” he said.

Mr Kunde stood for the Bullet Train Party at the 2013 federal election on the Central Coast and remains a strong supporter of fast rail.

“This has the potential to transform the economy of inland cities,” he said.Mr Kunde also supported Labor’s border protection policy.

The Labor party is the last of the major parties to announce a candidate.

This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.

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Sep 19, 2018

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Comments Off on Victorian government pledges support for police mental health

“We are 100 per cent behind Victoria Police in implementing the recommendations in the report,” Ms Neville said.

Ms Neville, who took over from Wade Noonan after he stood aside for mental health reasons, said the report was also an important step forward for the broader community.

The report, commissioned by Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton after the suicide of a policewoman at work last October, calls for the roll-out of education programs, particularly for leaders in the force.

It also called for the establishment of a Department of Veteran Affairs-style organisation for former police and the urgent expansion of the internal psychology unit.

Mr Ashton said resourcing all 39 recommendations was the highest priority, though the dollar figure on it was not yet clear.

“It’s not going to be cheap,” he said.

“The priority is to fund it. It’s an extremely high priority.

“The amount of money this is going to cost is nothing compared to the damage that exists within the organisation.” Proud to be releasing landmark report into Mental Health to better support our people @VictoriaPolicepic.twitter南京夜网/2FTviDSGxq— Graham Ashton (@GrahamAshtonCCP) May 31, 2016

But the greatest challenges, the police union says, will be removing the stigma, and force command winning back the trust of its members.

The review found the fear among some police that asking for help would hurt their career was “well justified”, with officers missing out on promotions and being taken off operational duties.

“They’re suffering because currently a lot of members don’t trust the managers,” Mr Iddles said.

The damage the WorkCover scheme – which asks officers to prove their mental illness – was causing to police was also highlighted in the review,.

Commander Shane Cole, the head of the force’s health and safety division, said the scheme is not set up for mental health claims.

“We need the scheme to make it easier for people with mental health issues to get a claim up. We need the claims process to be simpler, we need a panel of experts who are really good at diagnosing the right mental health issues, the right treatment and assisting them to return to work,” Mr Cole said.

Mr Iddles said the scheme needed to be changed to align with NSW police, where the insurer accepts the psychological claim straight off so an officer is treated sooner.

“Or we move to reverse onus where if you submit a claim, the onus is on Victoria Police or the insurer to say work didn’t cause it,” he said.

Full version of the Victoria Police Mental Health Review.

This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.

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Sep 19, 2018

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THE moment in 1993 whenSt Kilda footballer Nicky Winmar stoodbefore opposition fans, lifted his jumper,pointed to his skin and declared”I’m black – and I’m proud to be black!” marked a seismicshift in race relations in Australia.

Preceding Winmar’sdefiant stance–not for the first time in his decorated career –was a 120-minute barrage of vile and vicious racial abuse.

The mercurial midfielder had every right to walk off the field after his best-on-ground performance that day and never return to the game.Instead, his dignified protest became inextricably linked with the reconciliation movement that was to follow.

Academics in the2015 paper “Aboriginal Rules: The Black History of Australian Football”, describe Winmar’s stance as“the Australian equivalent to the Tommie Smith/John Carlos/Black Power moment” at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

Such was its impact, they say it“transcended the realm of sport and football. It was socially, culturally, and politically important as it tapped into a discussion around race, culture, Indigenous people, and national identity that needed to be had”.

WhileWinmar’s brave act of defiance will forever be linked to reconciliation,Australian Rules Football has also played a leading role since that day.

For many Australians, the majority of their exposure to Indigenous culture comes from following the AFL.Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders make up about 3 per cent of Australia’s population, yet about 10 per cent of AFL-listed players are indigenous.

That level of representation is found in few other areas of Australian life. Not infederal parliament, not in business, not on our TV screens.

The benefits of seeing and hearingthese players week in, week out on TV, radio and in newspapers cannot be underestimated.

The AFL community is a broad church and, as we witnessed so regrettably last year through the booing of Adam Goodes, there are some in society yet to be, or who refuse to be, educated.

But that grossly unedifying chapter alonedoes not eradicate the considerable gains that have been made in football –and as a result more widely in society.

The reconciliation process is slow –far too slow –but our indigenous game has a vitallyimportant part to play in improving our understanding of Indigenous culture.

Ross Tyson, deputy editor

This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on Nanjing Night Net.